Primers are a relatively new makeup product and while they are not necessarily a must, if chosen wisely, they can take your makeup and skincare to the next level.

Although there are many makeup primers these days, for me they fall into just two categories. Primers that only do 1 specific thing and therefore, I would only use in specific parts of the face (like for example oil reduction primers or pore minimisers that I would use on my T-zone) and those that not only enhance makeup but also nourish the skin, and therefore, I would use all over the face and even on the neck.

Most primers out there fall into the first category. They might do something well but they are not known for their nourishing capabilities. It’s generally quite rare to find a primer that can be considered skincare worthy, especially as much as the This Works In Transit Camera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer which I highly recommend.

To my surprise though, I recently received the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser and it initially impressed me too. I’ve now put it through a few weeks on testing and here’s the results!

Is the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser as good as the This Works In Transit Camera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer and most importantly, is it worth your time and money? Let’s find out.

Here’s a summary, green background = positive, red = negative, grey = equal/neutral. For all the details keep reading or jump to the category you are interested in.

Note that the table contains some information from different categories together in one, in order to keep it short. For detailed information on each, see each category section below.

Colour

The This Works In TransitCamera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer is a white cream that gets worked into the skin without changing the skin’s colour.

On the other hand, the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser has a pale peachy, light-skin colour but it wasn’t enough to change the colour of my skin (I am very pale).

Both primers blur pores a little at the beginning of usage, perhaps due to moisturisation of the skin, but they are not good enough to be considered pore-blurring.

Winner: Equal. The two primers differ in colour but neither had a specific advantage over the other in this category.

This Works Primer 0 vs First Aid Beauty Primer 0

Texture

The This Works In TransitCamera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer has a thick, creamy consistency but is easy to spread and gets absorbed by the skin fast without leaving any residues behind.

On the other hand, the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser has a thinner cream texture that feels watery and very hydrating on the skin. It is also absorbed quickly and doesn’t leave any residues behind.

Winner: Equal. Which texture is best highly depends on your skin type. For my oily skin the This Works is better but on more dry skin the First Aid Beauty primer might feel more hydrating.

This Works Primer 0 vs First Aid Beauty Primer 0

Smell

The This Works primer has a faint floral/cosmetic smell is pleasant. It is fairly subtle though and you might not even smell it.

It is worth to note that the This Works primer also comes in travel size plastic tubes which expose the product more in air and therefore, change quicker overtime. If your primer has a strong floral scent it might have oxidised or come from a bad batch. I’ve noticed this with all the travel size tubes I ever had but none of the full size products ever smelled strongly or almost anything at all. I do not recommend buying the travel size of this product, even if it is still sealed.

The First Aid Beauty primer has a much stronger scent that smells like creamy coconut. It’s very pleasant but at the same time not too overpowering.

Winner: Due to the slightly nicer coconut scent, which is natural and not from fragrance, the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser takes this category.

This Works Primer 0 vs First Aid Beauty Primer 1

Price

The This Works Primer retails for £30 for 40mL whereas the First Aid Beauty for £20.50 for 50mL.

Winner: The First Aid Beauty primer is much cheaper.

This Works Primer 0 vs First Aid Beauty Primer 2

Packaging

Both primers are very practical and easy to use. The This Works primer comes with a pump but the First Aid Beauty one is also very easy to squeeze out of the tube.

In terms of general appearance, the This Works is very simple in its branding and design whereas the First Aid Beauty one is more colourful and stands out.

I personally like the simplicity and elegance of the This Works one a little more, but it is mainly the fact that it comes with a pump that gives it the upper hand. The This Works packaging will protect its ingredients a little better.

It is worth noting that the This Works primer comes with outter cardboard packaging. The pictures in this post show a full size This Works 40mL bottle whereas the First Aid one is a 21.3g travel size because it was temporarily out of stock and couldn’t get my hands on one for the pictures! The full size First Aid primer looks exactly the same, just bigger.

Winner: The This Works primer comes with slightly better packaging.

This Works Primer 1 vs First Aid Beauty Primer 2

Results

While both primers were nice to use and felt great on the skin, the This Works primer is a better makeup base, enabling makeup to last a little longer.

The First Aid Beauty primer was also worse in controlling oil production and I was a little shiny or dewy when I was wearing it under makeup for 8 hours+. This might not be an issue for you at all if you have dry skin, but it might result in making your foundation stick to the skin a little less.

Winner: Overall, the This Works primer is a better makeup base no matter what skin type you have, giving longer lasting results.

This Works Primer 2 vs First Aid Beauty Primer 2

Other

The This Works primer lasts for 6M whereas the First Aid Beauty one for 12M. The This Works primer on the other hand, has won the Elle Best of British Beauty Awards and was a CEW Awards finalist in 2016. It’s also my ride-or-die primer for two years now.

Here’s what the brand says about the This Works In Transit Camera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer:

“A handbag must have – it’s a mask, moisturiser and primer all-in-one, for a long-lasting perfect make-up finish.

WHEN: this portable pick-me-up will even, plump and brighten skin instantly, ensuring you’re always ready for that close-up. Use daily or as a top-up whenever needed.

HOW: this high-performance Superblend features Bio Boost – our unique blend of anti-oxidant plant oils- to rebuild and protect the skin barrier, along with hydrating Hyaluronic Acid and Caffeine to rebalance and revitalise.

Here’s what the brand says about the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser:

“Formulated with Coconut Water and other superfood ingredients, this natural, complexion-enhancing moisturizer instantly brightens, hydrates and smooths in one simple step, while helping blur the appearance of pores and imperfections.

Makeup meets skincare with this two-in-one moisturizer and makeup-gripping primer. Formulated with superfood ingredients that are rich in vital proteins, electrolytes and minerals and infused with a natural coconut scent, this priming moisturizer hydrates and smooths skin as light-reflecting Micro-Pearls impart a subtle, dewy luminosity. The result is beautiful, healthy-looking skin when worn alone and long-lasting makeup when used as a prep step.”

Winner: Equal. The This Works primer is a more recognised product but the First Aid Beauty primer lasts longer.

This Works Primer 2 vs First Aid Beauty Primer 2

Ingredients

The This Works primer contains 45 ingredients of which 32 will offer you some skincare benefit, 2 potential negatives and 18 irritants. The First Aid Beauty primer contains 44 ingredients of which 28 will offer you some skincare benefit, 5 potential negatives and 5 irritants.

Overall, the This Works primer has a higher skincare nourishing capability, even though some ingredients are present in very small amounts. Although the First Aid beauty primer is much more nourishing than a lot of primers out there, it is just not as good as the This Works.

Winner: This Works Primer 3 vs First Aid Beauty Primer 2

Ingredient positives for the This Works In Transit Camera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer:

Aqua – Waterbased formulation.

Glycerin – Found naturally in the skin so can be seen as a skin replenishing ingredient. A skin conditioner that helps improve and smooth the appearance of skin. A good moisturiser that is almost always present in moisturising products.

Cetyl Alcohol– Conditions and softens the skin. It is a fatty alcohol and so it is not perceived to be as damaging to the skin as others.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract– Skin conditioner, locks moisture in (=humectant). Some consider it to have anti-flammatory properties and protects against UV-damage. This is not a sunscreen and you still need SPF. Some have reported it to stimulate collage production and therefore, reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Chondrus Crispus Extract– Contains of 10% protein, 15% minerals and is rich in iodine and sulfur. Can hold 20-100 times its weight in water so is a good moisturiser. Anti-oxidant, skin conditioner, can protect against UV, enhances the texture of the skin.

Sodium Hyaluronate– Known in the science community as “the fountain of youth” compound. Can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, so it is a king moisturiser. Helps wounds heal faster and increases collagen production leading to younger looking skin. For more info and all the scientifically proven claims see “Hyaluronic acid – the fountain of youth?”

Rosa Damascena Flower Oil– Skin soother and anti-oxidant. Contains a mixture of vitamins and other compounds. Has anti-microbial properties and UV resistance.

Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract– Astringent (reduces redness), skin conditioner, anti-flammatory, anti-ageing, used in wound healing. Some claim it has beneficial effects on hormonal levels and is used in cases of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) and menopausal disorders. It is high in salicylic acid which is good against inflammation.

Ascorbyl Palmitate– Form of Vitamin C. Anti-oxidant, helps bind other vitamins. This form of vitamin C penetrates the skin faster. Collagen builder and free-radical scavenger. Anti-ageing. Works synergistically with vitamin E. For more details see post “Vitamins C & E – do they work in skin care?”

Retinyl Palmitate– Similar to retinol (aka Vitamin A) but this form is less irritating. Repairs skin’s elasticity and is linked to collagen production. Anti-ageing. Helps protect from sun damage and can help the skin shed the dead cells and produce new ones. Skin conditioner and anti-oxidant. For more details see “Vitamin A in skin care – is it worth it?”

Tocopheryl Acetate– More stable form of vitamin E. Hero anti-oxidant molecule. Skin conditioner. Enhances the activity of sunscreens, can moisturise and help with inflammation. For more details see post “Vitamins C & E – do they work in skin care?”

Glucose– Skin conditioning and moisturising agent thanks to its ability to bind water.

C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate– A skin conditioner which primarily serves formulation roles such as being an anti-microbial preserving agent that can dissolve sunscreens.

Maltodextrin– A film former. Some studies suggest it might enhance the anti-ageing activity of weak acids.

Aqua (Water, Eau) – Natural moisturiser.

Cyclopentasiloxane– A solvent that enhances fluidity and gives a silky feeling. It can also temporarily fill in wrinkles and creases. Can lock in water by forming a protective barrier on the skin.

Glycerin – Found naturally in the skin so can be seen as a skin replenishing ingredient. A skin conditioner that helps improve and smooth the appearance of skin. A good moisturiser that is almost always present in moisturising products.

Caprylic/Caprylic Triglyceride– A skin conditioner and replenisher. Can enhance the delivery of vitamins, pigments and other ingredients.

Mica– reflects light so it can give the illusion of smoother, softer, more radiant skin.

Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract – Skin conditioner, anti-oxidant, humectant, helps control oil production and can calm and soothe acne-prone skin. Some claim it can also whiten and moisturise.

Ethylhexylglycerin – A weak preservative and skin conditioner that is often used in ointments for eczema

Dimethicone Crosspolymer– Can sooth and soften the skin.

Isohexadecane– A skin conditioner that is too big to penetrate the skin.

Lactobacillus Ferment– Skin conditioner.

Ingredient negatives for the This Works In Transit Camera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer:

Alcohol– There is evidence suggesting that low molecular alcohols (denat. or not) damage and dry the skin. This can in turn enhance the penetration of other compounds into the skin, although sometimes this might not be a negative.

Sodium Hydroxymethyl glycinate– Natural, alternative preservative to parabens. Some controversy on the possibility of breaking down and forming a toxic compound (formaldehyde). However, just because that chemical conversion is possible doesn’t mean it happens.

Saccharomyces/Copper Ferment – Some studies state organ system toxicity and enhanced absorption concerns.

Saccharomyces/Iron Ferment – Said to be bioaccumulative in wildlife and humans.

Saccharomyces/Zinc Ferment – Said to be bioaccumulative in wildlife.

Sorbitan Oleate – Suspected carcinogen.

Polysorbate 80– Although there is no solid scientific proof, this ingredient has been the subject of a couple of studies noticing cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity concerns

Ingredients that can cause irritation to some:

This is actually really case specific, as different people have different sensitivities and allergies. Just because a compound has been reported by some to cause sensitivity, it doesn’t mean you will have an issue. “Sensitizer” compounds being present is not a negative in my opinion, as this is the case with pretty much everything out there and funnily enough I’ve seen products that are targeted specifically for sensitive skin, containing some compounds that have been reported by some, or are known to be, sensitizers.

If you have sensitive skin or you are prone to skin sensitisation and unwanted reactions, try a little bit of this at the back of your hand first and consult a medical doctor if you are concerned.

The following compounds present in the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser have been either proven or claimed by some to be sensitizers, irritants, allergens etc: Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Oleate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide.

Verdict

Although the First Aid Beauty Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser is much more skin nourishing than a lot of makeup primers and even some moisturisers out there, it is not as nourishing as the This Works In Transit Camera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer.

Additionally, the This Works product is a better makeup primer, helping makeup last longer and works better for most skin types.

If you have dry skin you can try out the much cheaper First Aid Beauty primer but overall, the one I would still recommend, for all skin types, is the This Works In Transit Camera Mask, Moisturiser & Primer.

I am not affiliated with any company or brand. These are my views and experiences.
Beauty is a very personal thing, we all have different skin, requirements and biological build which can influence things. What worked for me might not work for you and vice versa. Have you ever tried these products? Did they work for you? Let me know your experiences below!

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Thanks for the great reviews (as always!) I’m kind of giving up on primers – they’re not doing it for me. I have a few to try and use up but yeah. Extra skincare that deprives me of five minutes of extra sleep. I’d rather spend my money on ANR.🤗

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